PLACES TO VISIT | GARDENS

The Mermaid Garden / Santa Cruz Park

The park of Quinta de Santa Cruz (known nowadays as Jardim da Sereia – The Mermaid Garden) was the result of the work of Friar Gaspar da Encarnação, a minister who restored Santa Cruz Convent, one of the most important monuments of the city. This work was conceived and erected under D. João V ruling. The main goal was to create a park for contemplation. The entry of the garden faces Republic square and has three statues on top representing: Faith, Charity and Hope. The influence of French Baroque can be seen in alleys full of laurels, as well as in lakes, tanks, flowerbeds, décor elements, tile panels and statues. At the central body, there is a sculpture of the Virgin, surrounded by two alleys of drinking fountains. Nogueira fountain deserves a special attention. This construction is made of limestone solidifications extracted from the natural grouts of the city surroundings. The football field is also very interesting. The Mermaid Garden, deploy renovated in the first semester of 2005, has recovered the charm of the past, providing visitors a very pleasant experience.